Mac Mini M4

I am in the process of moving from Windows OS(5 years old built it right as covid hit) to Apple IOS... i have limited budget and just started learning Davinci and have the studio version. I would like to start with the Mac Mini m4 I wont be adding much to the system as far as apps and new software.

I'm just stuck as to make a decision... I want to stay with the desktop as I have no need for a laptop... I don't know.

Thanks

Resolve will work fine on the M4,however, the more complex your project, and/if you're using Fusion or not, might require more RAM. Always shoot for more RAM than the default...

Even the base version can be fine, but it all depends on:
– your sources (resolution and codec)
- your output resolution
- the complexity of your operations (NR, Speed Warp, etc.)
Please tell us a bit more, and you can get detailed advice.

Why do you say move from PC? Why not have both. I find it an advantage to have both. The Studio Max I have is silent and has hardware decode media engines so great for editing. However the PC is faster to encode if there is a lot of heavy GPU tasks like noise reduction or fusion. I have my source media on an external SSD so just export project to the SSD when I finish editing and then it will run on the PC or in fact the iPad. DR Studio license works on both so no problem using both. Separate Studio license for iPad. As mentioned get RAM as unlike PC the RAM is shared between CPU and GPU and not upgradable, also if you do not get enough the OS will create a swap file on the internal drive that can add wear to that drive. Also unlike a PC there is no way to add more internal drives so you need to budget for an external like a Thunderbolt dock with NVME drive in it. I have an ACASIS unit that is great. That way there is nothing on the internal drive other than the OS and applications.

Our household is still PC and Android so the Studio Max is just an editing unit with Chrome, Resolve, Affinity Photo 2 and Topaz. Nothing else, with all the Apple "features" turned off . Of course I have Affinity and Topaz on the PC too as well as Affinity on the iPad. Nice to have these application move projects between compute units.

It makes sense, yes. The Mac is great with all kinds of H.264/265 'flavours' you can throw at it, while a beefy PC is better for Fusion work. But if you can afford only one machine equipped for DR, the new Mac mini seems quite attractive.
I second the Acasis, BTW.

Yes the mini does look attractive but I think well equipped for DR it will not be that inexpensive. The base model is $599 with 10 core GPU 256G RAM is not going to work well for heavy work loads. Would love to be proven wrong, I think the mini will need to be the Pro with at least the upgrade to 20 core GPU and 48G RAM. Now the cost is $1999. The same price as the M2 Studio Max with 30 core GPU, 10G Ethernet and faster memory bandwidth and I think much better cooling. For me sweet spot, cost performance, is the Studio Max line and we will see if that is the case when the M4 versions come out !!

Will the base Mini work? Of course it will. Bit like saying my Studio Max will encode lots of noise reduction and fusion titles etc. However with this task the Studio Max encodes at 3 or 4fps but my PC does the task at 13fps same project from the same external SSD. For editing multicam the tables are turned with the Studio Max running full speed with source files from my GH6 and GH5S UHD 60p. PC with this just stutters and will not run well. So dependent on the task at hand which is why I now like having both systems. I also like having PC for the other encoding options I am used to using like TMPGenc that gives me the option to fully specify h264 encodes etc. Disc authoring software etc. Having two OS systems is really handy.

Resolve will work fine on the M4,however, the more complex your project, and/if you're using Fusion or not, might require more RAM. Always shoot for more RAM than the default...

thank you for your response I did opt for the Mac Mini M4Pro 24GB ram and 512GB drive... also purchased Samsung 4TB T7 external drive as well. Just edited my 1st Gym video was 4.5 minutes long and nothing fancy before I could look it rendered and was done... now onto bigger and longer projects. Again thanks for responding...


Dave

Even the base version can be fine, but it all depends on:
– your sources (resolution and codec)
- your output resolution
- the complexity of your operations (NR, Speed Warp, etc.)
Please tell us a bit more, and you can get detailed advice.

Hello and thanks for responding. I will be using my iPhone 16 Pro Max, Panasonic S5M2 camera as well as DJI Osmo Action camera... I would like to record in 4K and output to 4K as well... also have a family YouTube channel for family to post short videos and like to post on social media. Purchased the Mac Mini M4Pro 24GB ram and 512GB drive plus 4TB Samsung T7 external drive.

Dave

Yes the mini does look attractive but I think well equipped for DR it will not be that inexpensive. The base model is $599 with 10 core GPU 256G RAM is not going to work well for heavy work loads. Would love to be proven wrong, I think the mini will need to be the Pro with at least the upgrade to 20 core GPU and 48G RAM. Now the cost is $1999. The same price as the M2 Studio Max with 30 core GPU, 10G Ethernet and faster memory bandwidth and I think much better cooling. For me sweet spot, cost performance, is the Studio Max line and we will see if that is the case when the M4 versions come out !!

Will the base Mini work? Of course it will. Bit like saying my Studio Max will encode lots of noise reduction and fusion titles etc. However with this task the Studio Max encodes at 3 or 4fps but my PC does the task at 13fps same project from the same external SSD. For editing multicam the tables are turned with the Studio Max running full speed with source files from my GH6 and GH5S UHD 60p. PC with this just stutters and will not run well. So dependent on the task at hand which is why I now like having both systems. I also like having PC for the other encoding options I am used to using like TMPGenc that gives me the option to fully specify h264 encodes etc. Disc authoring software etc. Having two OS systems is really handy.

Thanks for your response...

I was an Android beta tester since the arrival of android... Have a PC that I built some time ryzen 2700, 2060 Super, 32GB ram and 2 2tb drives. It still runs good good. And I will keep both for the time being as I go through my PC figuring out what I want and need to keep and will eventually fade it out.

I went with the Mac Mini M4 Pro 24GB 512GB drive I also purchased a 4TB Samsung T7 external drive(Black Friday deal)... I will be using my Apple 16 Pro Max, Panasonic S5M2 camera, and DJI Osmo Action Camera(Original, cause it still works great) to shoot video and pictures.

I do get what you are saying about your M2 Mac Studio as I have seen many YouTube videos stating the exact same thing... After buying the M4 Pro and the external drive I came close to the 1999.00 price. I see what happens when the M4 Studios come out who knows maybe I'll be in a better place money wise to make the buy.

Thanks
Dave